It was so wonderful to see the sunshine yesterday. It has been awhile since we've seen it. Today is hit and miss. The clouds keep moving in and out. I guess they are getting ready for the snow to come. We are expecting anywhere from 2-4 inches all the way to 12-13 inches. I'm hoping for 2-4 inches.

The other day I posted a portion of my To-Do list.. and here is what I accomplished over the weekend.

Woo Hoo....I got the final borders put on my RRCB. I didn't have a spot big enough to lay out the quilt for you to see so my husband is standing on a bench holding it up. His hands were touching the ceiling. It will be a while before I get to quilt it as there are a few ahead of it.

I also got 2 more blocks done for the Thread Head Quilt-a-Long. I have 8 more to do to get caught up.

Here's my List:

Finish RRCB

Get caught up on Thread Head Quilt-a-Long (2 done, 8 to go)

Start Barbara Brackman Civil War Blocks (ran out of time)

Finish EQ7 block and post it (finished but for some reason it won't post it)

Finish Sunflower quilt. (Not finished but got 4 petals appliqued)

Mug rugs for the Mug Rug swap.

Not bad for a weekend list. My UFO, To-Do, or Bucket list is really very long. But I find if I just list 5 or 6 projects at a time I get more done.

Here is my list for the week. Lets see how much I can accomplish.

Finish the 8 blocks for the Thread Head Quilt-a-Long.

Start Barbara Brackman Civil War blocks.

Finish appliqueing sunflower petals.

Finish hand quilting small wall hanging in lap frame.

I think this is more than enough projects for the week.

Well the snow is suppose to start sometime tomorrow. Here's hoping we are on the fringe and don't get to much.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

And woke up to more snow this morning. However, it wasn't as bad as they said.

As you can see it was just an inch or so. Now if I were up north it would probably be 9 or 10 inches and the picture would be much prettier.

Well I worked on my to-do list. I only got 3 petals of my sunflower appliqued down last night while watching TV. I think I watched more then appliqued. But 3 is better than none.

I did however finish the 4th border for my RRCB. Today I'm going to make the corner pieces and sew the borders to the top.

I got my EQ7 January block finished and sent it in to the webmaster but for some reason it has not been posted. Oh well, at least I made it. For those of you who don't have EQ7 (and I'm one of them) you can still make the block. They provide the templates and cutting instructions for you to download and print. Each month a new block and a chance to win a prize.

I forgot to add something to my list. That was the mug rugs for the mug rug swap I'm in. Both are now finished and I just need to sew the binding down on the second one. Went with a different pattern for it. I hope the recipient will enjoy them. I can't wait to see what I get.

Well after one day I worked on 3 projects on my to-do list, finished one, added one and now I need to go in my sewing room and start working on the rest.

I hope you can get some things done on your to-do list or bucket list.

Friday, January 28, 2011

I spent the morning with a cup of coffee reading emails, Facebook, and Blogs. Not a bad way to start my morning. I found some really good information on the Quilty Pleasures Blog. They posted information on understanding stitch length. Here is the link.

As you know I've been working on the Thread Head Quilt-a-Long Quilt. I chose to do a completely different layout. Last night I found out that I didn't have enough of the brown fabric I was using for the sashing. So I pulled out a couple of different fabrics to try out. One was a medium blue small print. It was okay...but would look better with say an appliqued quilt. Then I pulled a dark blue fabric with an antique look to it. I think this is the one.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

I'm feeling much better. I can actually breathe through my nose now. And my congestion has cleared up. I guess that Pneumonia shot I got a few years ago helped.

I was reading Pat Sloan's blog this morning and she was asking if we are ready for spring. I sure am. Although I must admit the winters here are easier that the winters up north. In the Upper Peninsula we would get 12" - 18" of snow at one time. One year we had over 150" of snow for the season. My shoulders still hurt from shoveling and using the industrial strength snow blower my dad had. I love winter but I couldn't wait for spring. My favorite part of spring was the early flowers. Trillium is my favorite.

It comes out while there is still snow on the ground and it hides out under the trees. I would love driving down country roads and see the trillium spilling out all over. I tried to bring some down here once...it only came up once. I think it was a real treat for the squirrels. They ate the whole thing.

I did get some sewing done the last couple of days....

I finished one of the mug rugs for the swap on Quilting Gallery. I machine quilted around the design and then an overall diagonal quilting. I still have to make another one to make. Want this one to be different.

I made another pieced border for my RRCB. One more to go. Can't wait to finish this baby. It has taken up a lot of my time but has been well worth it.

As you know I have also been working on blocks for a Civil War Quilt designed by Thread Head. I am a bit behind everyone else. I started working on Block #3 yesterday. Now the original blocks were 9". I decided to do mine at 6". So naturally I had to redraft them. The first 2 blocks went really well. But when it cam to doing the pinwheel center of this block I was stymied. I drew it up on EQ5 and printed out the templates for a 6" block. I did a sample first and it didn't work out. Then I got an idea. I printed up paperpieced blocks for the center and it worked.

I think it turned out pretty good. Today I'm going to make a second block.

It's getting close to lunch time so I'm going to heat up the last of my Cabbage Soup. I wish you a quilty day.... Hugs, Cat

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Woke up feeling cold and having a cold. My son has been hacking around the house for a few days now and now I am coming down with it.

I worked in my sewing room all day yesterday. I got my RRCB squared up...the green border sewn on and the first of the pieced borders made.

Hope to get the rest of the borders made today.

I started working on the Civil War inspired quilt designed by Thread Head. She is doing 9" blocks I decided to do 6" blocks. It's a bit of a challange doing them smaller but I'm happy with how they are turning out.

I'm also doing a different layout. I just have it layed out on my design wall. Not sure if I'm doing the dark brown or not. I got the idea for the layout from TV. I was watching a marathon of "Royal Pains" the other day. There was a tiled wall in the mansion that looked like this. What do you think?

Well time to get back to sewing...take some cold meds....and stay warm.

Worked on my RRCB yesterday. I got all the rows sewn together. Hubby was very happy as he is always complaining about our present quilt not being big enough. He can't wait for me to finish this one.

Here is the quilt on our abed now...

This is one of the quilts I made during my time up north. It was originally a pattern for a wall quilt. I made extra blocks and added additional borders. The applique went fairly quick and I hand quilted it using pearl cotton and a bigger stitch.

All of the fabrics used were homespun plaids, which are some of my favorite fabrics. Although I haven't met a fabric I didn't like. lol

So here is my RRCB top all sewn together. Today I am going to trim and add the green inner border. Next will be the pieced final border. I'm hoping to get that done this weekend. I am in awe of all the quilters that have already gotten theirs done and in some cases quilted.

So I am putting my Spaghetti sauce in the slow cooker, wearing my comfy clothes, and sitting down to a long but pleasant day of quilting.

I started working on the Civil War Inspired quilt that is on the Thread Head Blog. Her blocks are 9 inches. I decided that I am going to make mine 6 inches and try a different layout. As soon as I get a couple of blocks made I will share photos of them. I will be keeping them in one of these boxes.

Hubby and I went for a ride yesterday and ended up at the Mary Maxim's store in Port Huron. I picked up a really cute pattern for Felt Pincushions, 2 yds of a tiny floral by Thimbleberries, and a FQ of cute mint green with cherries (I plan on using for a Valentines project). Can't wait to start new projects....but have too many to finish right now.

I did get a chance to work on my Roll Roll Cotton Boll. I got all the rows sewn now I need to sew these together so I can start the borders.

I've seen some of the other quilts made from this pattern and amazed how different they look with different fabric choices. My goal is to get the top done this weekend.

I voted on the Bargello quilts at the Quilting Gallery Blog this morning. Check them out. There are some amazing quilts. I never knew there were so many design possibilities for Bargello.

Rain yesterday...freezing cold today. Good day to stay inside and sew, quilt, or applique. I'm going to do a little of each.

Yesterday I made the cutest little wall quilt and today I'm going to quilt it.

I'm going to send it to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative that Ami Simms handles. Hopefully it will bring in a little money for Alzheimers Research. I have quite a few relatives that have been struck down by this disease. I think it is harder on their family's than anyone.

I signed up for a Mug Rug Swap. I've made lots of coaster sets and have given them as Christmas Presents. I made one according to their directions first to see if I'd like it. And I do. I can't wait to do more.

It is 6" x 10". Just the right size for a cup of coffee and some cookies. Or a glass of milk and a bowl of cereal. I found this on the Quilting Gallery site.

The applique project I am working on is a Sunflower quilt. It is based on a photo a friend of mine took. It will have an additional border and of course I will be adding a center to the Sunflower.

Here is a picture of the first quilt I made from a photo.

So that takes care of my quilting, applique and I've still got my RRCB on my design wall so that takes care of the sewing.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Yesterday was one of those days. I was working on Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt, "Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll".

I had all of the Prickly Pear Blocks up on my design was and noticed that some of them weren't just right and would have to be fixed. I decided to fix them when it was time to sew the top together. Well, I came to the first block that needed fixing. I took it apart, and sewed it back together the right way....or so I thought. Three tries later, after much frustration, I finally got it right. I knew then that it was time to step away from my machine.

I never had this problem when I was Up North. Oh I made mistakes, we all do. But I never got frustrated. I guess it was because I did most of my quilting out on the porch with a view of the lake. I would often take breaks and watch the birds at the feeders and it kept me in a zenlike state.

Well since I'm not Up North the next best thing was to go for a ride. My husband Terry and I took a ride along the St. Clair River. There is a lot of ice on the river right now and a freighter got stuck. We got there shortly after the Coast Guard Cutter freed it and they were moving down river. I always take my camera everywhere so I took pictures.

The Coast Guard had to cut a path for the freighter. It was really something to watch.

After a nice ride and a good dinner out I was back in the mood to sew. Here is the close up of the Mystery quilt.

Well today is a new day. The sun is shinning and the sky is clear. I'm heading back to sewing room to work on a Block of the Week, a Block of the Month, and the mystery quilt. Hope you get to accomplish something you have wanted to do. Have a quilty day.....Cat

Saturday, January 15, 2011

I promise this blog will be discussing all things quilty....but first I need to explain some of my history of the past few years.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Cathy (Cat for short). I'm married, have 5 children and 4 grandchildren. I have been quilting for about 25 years. Quilting has taken over my life. I mean literally. Just ask my husband.

I am so looking forward to this New Year. New beginings and new experiences. Last year was not a very good year. In February I lost my Dad. He lived a good and long life. He was 88 years old. He had had multiple heart attacks and 2 by-pass surgerys over the years. He was Diabetic and was blind in one eye. But it didn't keep him down. He was on the go right up until a week before he passed. We were not close when I was younger but with most things, with age this changed. My husband and I would take my parents on trips with us and we always had such a great time...but still there was always a distance between us. That changed 5 years ago.

My parents lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in McMillan and on Big Manistique Lake. They loved it and so did we. However, we lived 350 miles away, so we didn't get to see them that much.

In June 2006, my mother passed away. Dad refused to come down state with us. So the decission was made that I would move in with Dad take care of him and try to get him to move down state. So I packed up my sewing machine, some fabric, some books, clothes and said bye to my husband and family and moved in with Dad.

Every month my husband would come and visit. The kids would bring their familys for vacation on the lake and life was good. Dad and I would take a visit down state to visit and I would bring another sewing machine, some more fabric and more books.

Dad's house was not big...in fact it wasn't a house at all. It was a mobile home that Dad had added onto. He built Mom a sewing room, which became mine. He added another bedroom and beautiful dining room. And my favorite room in the house was the enclosed sun porch that overlooked the lake. This is the view during the winter.

Thank goodness for my quilting. It kept me sane and kept me busy. Dad was very proud of all my quilting. He took pride in telling everyone "My daughter is a Quilter". One day one of his neighbors asked it I would make a pillow for a friend of hers and she would pay me. I didn't say anything to Dad but after I delivered the pillow I told Dad I had made some money for making a pillow.

You could see the wheels turning. About a day later he said he wanted to commision me to make a quilt for another neighber. I'm thinking wall quilt, or lap quilt. Not him. He wanted a King Size quilt and HAND quilted. Well he inspired me. And thanks to all the fabric I had been bring up north, I didn't have to buy any. Dad bought the backing and batting. I did hand quilt it but I used pearl cotton and did a big stitch.

Sorry it's not the best picture but here it is.

Well that is my first blog. I'll continue with my story another day. I hope you stop back again.